Talk:Griffin
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[edit] Ears
Wonderful article, however, I question the validity of the ear theory stating that they come from either a horse or a donkey. An Eagle has ears very much like the ears of the depicted griffins, yet, if indeed this was found in a valid source I question no further. Jughead
Chelseaboy responds:- All the standard works on heraldry say that the griffin's ears differentiate it from the eagle - i.e. they are not eagle's ears. For example:
- A C Fox-Davies The Art of Heraldry (1904, reprinted 1986) p 158 "It has the wings of the eagle, which are never represented close, but it also has ears, and this, by the way, should be noted, because herein is the only distinction between a griffin's head and an eagle's head when the rest of the body is not represented."
- Stephen Friar (ed) A New Dictionary of Heraldry (1987) p 173: "Its head, wings and talons are those of an eagle, to which are added a pair of sharp ears, as it has very acute hearing."
- J P Brooke-Little Boutell's Heraldry (1978 edn) p 81: "The GRIFFIN, or GRYPHON, has the head, breast, foreclaws and wings of an eagle, and the hindquarters and tail of a liion. It has ears."
None of these quotes specifies that the ears are those of a horse or a donkey. But they do tend to have that appearance, as reflected in Friar's reference to "sharp ears".Chelseaboy 10:02, 27 May 2005 (UTC)
you may not want to include that fact then if it is an assumption or observation because as I am positive you already know every aspect of a mythological creature is a symbol and to say it has ears of a donkey or horse if it is only speculation could be damaging to the information as a whole. I dont mean to offend you because I think that the article is very good, I even learned a few new things. Jughead 2 June 2005
Lay off the poor thing! Jeez! Timio 10:10, 3/5/05
I've made an edit which takes your point on board. Thanks for your contribution - no-one is offended by thoughtful and constructive comments like yours. Hey, I didn't even write the passage which bothered you! Chelseaboy 09:25, 6 Jun 2005 (UTC)
It is nice to have comments appreciated. : ) jughead
Determination request. It looks like a griffin but it has no ears. What is it? They are like a supporters of a charge. Photo of relief of CoA in Olomouc (Czech Republic). --Snek01 16:26, 30 April 2006 (UTC)
- Griffins are not always portrayed with ears. If it's got an eagle's head and wings and lion's body, as these do, then it's a classic griffin.
Coyoty 18:05, 2 May 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Hildegard of Bingen
Our reference comes at third hand through [www.mythicalrealm.com/creatures/aerie.html "Lady Gryphon's Mythical Realm"]. Can we get a firsthand quote and reference? --Wetman 00:39, 15 September 2005 (UTC)
[edit] Griffin literature
There are some more books on griffins now. Try to add the titles on. Just go to Google and type in Literature on Griffins.
Also, this statement should go in the article:By nature, the griffin is a calm creature. It only attacks when provoked.
Just thought I could help. Mac SimmsMac Simms 17:24, 3 December 2005 (UTC)
[edit] Winged lions and other non-aquiline beasts
Mostly, the article makes the griffin's body (ignoring the wings for the moment) a cross between the body parts of an eagle and a lion, which I would have thought correct. But winged lions or other big cats creep in about halfway down in these two sentences: "In architectural decoration the griffin is usually represented as a four-footed beast with wings and the head of a leopard or tiger with horns... The griffin is the symbol of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and you can see bronze castings of them perched on each corner of the museum's roof, protecting its collection." The Philadelphia Museum of Art illustration seems clearly to be a winged lion (complete with mane) and the latest pic of the St Petersburg bridge also has no eagle parts except wings. Is it right that a winged big cat is a griffin? Are there really examples of winged beasts in architecture with "the head of a tiger with horns" and, if so, are they griffins? The winged bulls of Assyria are not griffins. Doesn't the bird element need to amount to more than wings? Chelseaboy 18:25, 13 January 2006 (UTC)
I think the article should make a distinction that winged lions and other cats without bird heads are not griffins. Combinations of other birds' heads and cats' bodies may qualify, and the bodies of other animals, as in the hippogryph, but it's the avian heads that define them. Gentaur 21:25, 13 January 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Vandalism
What is the purpose of this sentence: He also is 9 feet tall and has an 18 inch penis. (Unsigned by 128.62.100.139)
- That was vandalism. It has been corrected. Coyoty 20:52, 9 March 2006 (UTC)
"a legendary creature with the body of an eagle and the head and wings of a lion" perhaps "the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle" is correct
- vandalism reverted. Kowloonese 02:11, 10 March 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Which Eagle?
Is there any particular species of eagle associated with griffins? I've tended to assume they're golden eagle mixes, and it seems reasonable to assume that no new-world eagles qualify (at least in antiquity) but is that supported in the literature? SleekWeasel 20:13, 20 August 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Fe/male griffin
Oh, while I'm being picky-
"Classical and heraldic griffins are male and female. A "male" griffin, called a keythong in a single 15th century English heraldic manuscript, is an anomaly
I presume this doesn't mean that classical griffins are hermaphrodite?! SleekWeasel 20:27, 20 August 2006 (UTC)
- The problem is with the confident assertion "Classical and heraldic griffins are male and female," which would qualify as Original Research if it were based on research. --Wetman 09:06, 21 August 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Griffins as dogs?
The section I just blanked again ("Griffins in Nature: Origin of Myth or Myth of Origin?") was, um, interesting, but unsourced, highly speculative, and not encyclopedic. I defy anyone to cite sources for those comments; if not, per WP:Verifiability it needs to be deleted. DCB4W 02:47, 5 October 2006 (UTC)
Bring back the "Griffins in Nature" section, it's the only thing that keeps this article alive and relevant. Otherwise it's as dead as the Beast of Maine and stinks about the same.--4.245.254.43 06:06, 5 October 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Fire?
I'm sorry, but I just have to ask; do Griffins, as a general mythical rule, breathe fire? Charlie MacKenzie 11:59, 6 October 2006 (UTC)
Dudette ask yourself this question DO dogs breathe fire?--Marsiliano 16:59, 6 October 2006 (UTC)
- I don't know, Dudette. DO mythical dogs breathe fire? Yes, I can think of one. I know that Griffins definitely breathed fire in Azure Dreams, but do they, as a general mythical rule, breathe fire? Charlie MacKenzie 18:33, 6 October 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Griffen?
When is the creature spelled this way? I think its only the surname. Suggest removing Griffen. User:Zimmer79 10:54, 31 October 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Vandalism
I deleted a paragraph purposely put at the heading of the page by someone. It was a hero worshipping paragraph written in the third person about some guy who apparently played every position on the his high school football team. His last name was Griffin, so I guess that qualified to be at mythical creature status.
Yes, I know what I'm doing and No, I can't tell you how I did it. 17:00, 9 December 2006 (UTC)User: Sirjameson on 9 December 2006 at 17:04 GMT
